Washing machine



Dec. 22, 1953 G. c. GRAHAM 2,663,176

WASHING MACHINE INVENToR. fa/eaf C. GRAHAM B HTTORNEY G. C. GRAHAMWASHING MACHINE:

Dec. 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 original Filed July 26, 1944 FIGAINVENTOR.

. 650/265 C. Glu/MM FIG. 5

G. C. GRAHAM WASHING MACHINE Dec. 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 OriginalFiled July 26, 1944 JNVENTOR Graka: 6'. GRA/MM BY v zzz' f HTTORNEYPatented Dec. 22, 1953 WASHING Georgen. Grahaml Ridgewood, SN.Jassig1ior to graham df- Banken Ridgewood, "N. ;I., ailimited lpartnership Original application July '26, 11,9551, Serial Mm and thisepnlioationllovember 11,5ff1-94851Se17ial, No. 60,117

My invention Arelates to washing; machines .and

-, Shelief,i11ustrated, by Way. of example, cincon- ..nection withahousehold: laundry/machine lfhis .1 application is, a division 6 of,-my co-pending-applieation r`SeriaLNo. 546,596, filed July 26, :1954,`entitled Automatic Washingv Machines, now Patent VNo;2,453,791issuedNovember 16, 1948, to which referencefmay: be had ,The .presentapplication has ;to do `.with Athe k.new and improved Washingzaction andtheunique `construction ,of `various lparts of the Washing machine Itwill :loel recognized that the,prin ,Cliple illustrated may b e changedin `various rer ,spects for different types of-.Washers and for Ydiierent fieldsof use, within-the spirit; and vscope fofgmyoinvention. Y1

`Among A the .objects of zthe vvinventionfene, ,to

' render t he-WashingzactionV more effe'aetive, as pro- `viding forfobtaining ,a ymore or-Jess @energetic :washing: action, for ltheflushing O ff of fscumfetc., fromthe-wash :Waterjpriorto rinsing; andthe pro- .fvision Aof `Yimproved zbaffie means -in the Washing chamberor-tub.l K,

:-Another object offthe inventionisz-to improve `the draining facilitiesof a -washing chamber 4whereby to -betterclean v the )Wash-:baton ,andlto l,reduce the Aoperating period.

Further objects of theginvention'arefto provide .1a new sandA-fixriproved tmethod tof 4produeiner a ieyratory stub; movementi ltoarrange for the adustment rt'hereof as ,needed; and a new =and :improved:water-@inlet e-.arrangernent, which :also :isreperablefasfa-sprayzrinse iorsthewashedlothes.

.fAzrstill l,fnrther obieet of the innention :is to r provide a Washing:zmaehineiof `vthe above indiieated character- .thateshall befsinip-leand durable :.iniconstructionf, economical toefmanuiacture ,.,a nd

The-invention willgloeibetterfunderstood from @the following descriptionfrtakeniin conjunction With the accompanying drawings, in Which:-

A :Fig 1 isa snbstantiallyieentral-seetion*inwerwtiealpplane-i of famachine, constructed in accorde .withffone-zexample gentile invention,drawn onsideralily:redueedsoaleeand eertain; parts aloe rig Aomittexiiorolarityofgillustietion,;

:Eig- 2eis.,-.anenlarged detail ffviewzof the rela- Ltionship :of .tlu=cove1 :and :the-:washing machine -atuhmand 'Y y f :Fia .-32 issa '.viewVsimilari()friefivith#the parts f theieof i-in 4:different position; i

:fl'igeiisa top5pla-n 1view, with v theiiiop v lid and @intermediateshelf. .,reinovesi, nand other parts of an inlet conduit structure forthe tuli 5Claims. (Cl. 68-171) Fie. 6*,is a riew, taken substantiallyaloileithe i.Fia 'Lis .anenlaree'd iview, Ain .vertical substantiallycentral nplan section, of 1one `,of two baille -elementsshown attheffupperleit andllovver right Fie. is aviewtof .the elementoirfigl 7,taken at fright angles thereto;

-tion thereto, -anrenlarged detail, ,paitiallnin ,ele-

eated near .the lower righthandportion .of '.the ytulosloovvn .in 4lie..1, -.-the,.1atteriiieur,e alsoisliow .ing a similar valveat, itsr upper;1ef t;ha n d. side.

-10W11e specification .will useithessameireierenee :numerals ,f or,theeveral parts -as are used in saidapplication s erialfNo. 546,596.

Referring to fthe drawings, Lhel'llllstrateiipmachine comprises ,awatertight ,housing v,or outer ,container 4| supportedluoonanlinolosingbase A42 enclosed at .-,the V top by a, 1idf.45. IIheLclothes receiving Ytulo .46 ,includes ,a rnon-corrosive .sheet |114 ofAsubstantially `s einchannel section jand tz-section respectively.

,The ,top perimeter 2| l5 vpartially .embraces :a

reinforcing neck ,ring .fils .(Eig. 2.) .which l has a. lip o l 2 0. Thecoverf 41 is oatinglvreeeivedgin the Eperimeter i 5 and is of :dishshape with a radialiyvoextendine n,top flange li2| that .overlies theV.perimeter Y|15 of cthe 151110, .an ruprightside WallIIL-antifaLconcavefbottorn .Wall 1,263 (having p erforations 42.15v:therein- The Aneck l I S .and Athe ooorresponding ,portion of IJtheltub side mail LLA l.11..ave, permanentizv freeisteringiapertures L26,@and the :lower gportioncof the side wall |22, of ,the t cover 4J has,apertnres |121 for oooperationv-wthitheapertures |126, :as will appearlater.

The. cover A1 is he1d up on the tub bymeans of `a V clamp ring I3 Iiwhichis, a, channelt section and `,engages ybeneath v.the lip l2 0. ofithe reinforcing :the ring carrying. at. one side, of.the,spl it abail|,3'2

which has pivotallv.monnted thereonone portion ofaioeeleiinkiiandiaiianole 13,4. .Wlieilihe link is open, the ring'v I 3|expe-lids so that the 2,663,176 a Y, v

is clamped tightly against the neck H9. The ring |3| has a suillcientlydeep channel section to permit the raising of the cover 41 so as tobring the holes |21 thereof in register with the holes |26 as shown inFig. 2. When the cover is in its lower position, shown in Fig. 3, theholes |21 of the cover are below the perimeter ||5 so as to communicatewith the interior of the tub 46. In this position, the side wall |22 ofthe cover closes the apertures |26. During certain operations, as willbe hereinafter described, the cover is in the upper position shown inFig. 2 so that water in the tub drains through the holes |25 of thecover and the registering holes |26 and |21, and at other times thewater which enters through the holes |25 drains back into the tub whilethe cover is in its lower position shown in Fig. 3.

The bottom wall 56 of the tub is arched upwardly toward the centerof thetub from a peripheral shoulder |36; i the bottom of the tub may be nator concave, as well as the convex shape shown. A diaphragm 55 extendsover the bottom and has a bead-like peripheral margin |31 which isreceived by the shoulder |36 (Fig. 6). The bead. and shoulder fitbeneath the ofiset perimeter ||6 of the. tub side wall H4, and all areclamped within a split ring |38 of channel section. The diaphragm isoperated periodically, by means of fluid pressure supplied throughdiaphragm valve 12 to ilush the tub and to dry the clothes, all as morefully explained in said application Serial No. 546,596. Y

As seen in Figs. 1 and 4, bosses |5| on the underside of the tub bottomwall 56, register with bosses |52 on the spider 50 for the reception ofscrews |53 whereby the tub ls held in position supported on the spider.The tub 46 has a water inlet tube |56 which communicates with a pair ofports |51 in the tub side wall ||4 adjacent the bottom thereof. The tube|56 is secured in place on the tub by means of coupling |58, and extendsdownwardly and thence inwardly along the` underside of .the spider towhich it is attached by a clip `|6| and screw or screws |62. Flexiblehose |64 connects to the end of tube |56 and at its other end the hoseisconnected to the bottom of a soap container 83 included in the iluidsupply circuit as explained more fully in said application Serial No.546,596.

Referring to Figs. l, 4, and 7 to 1 4, inclusive, each of the baffles52, of which there are two in the present machine disposed atdiametrically opposite positions on the inner surfaces of .the

tub side wall ||4, comprises a shell, as of cast metal, having a flatupright side wall 2|| and an opposite wall 2 2 which slopes, or isrearwardly convex, from the wall 2| with a curved upper edge portion2|3, as viewed in Fig. 8, merging into a straight edge lower portion2|4. Viewed in the directions of section lines 9-9 to |3|3, inclusive,the development of the contour of each baille 52 is shown in Figs. '1 to13, inclusive, respectively. Lugs 2|6 receive screws 2|1 by which thebaille is secured to the tub side wall |4, with the open inner face ofthe baille shaped in conformity to the spheroidal side wall ||4 thereof.The walls 2|| and 2|2 are joined, at the radially innermost portionsthereof from the wall H4, by a rounded edge portion 2 I8, and each ofthe walls 2|| and 2|2 is provided with apertures 22| open at all timesto the interior of the tub for the admission of water to the baille forthe purpose hereinafter explained.

The operation of the tub 46 is such that the water and clothes in thetub move in a clockwise direction, the flat sides 2| of the bailles facein the counterclockwise direction and extend transversely to thedirection of motion in the tub. Inthe forward motion of the tub, thesomewhat rotational movement of the clothes and water is interruptedtwice as the clothes engage the flat sides 2|| of the pair of baiiles52. The sloping sides 2|2 of the baffles, facing in the direction ofrotation, more or less allow the clothes to slide off the baffles.

The purpose of the baille valves about to be described is to control thedraining of water from the tub at the bottom thereof. As the baillevalve structures are alike, it is only necessary to describe one, and ofcourse only one may be used if desired.

At the lower portion, each baille 52 is provided with laterally extendedshoulders 222, which, in cooperation with the adjacent tub side wall|14, form a slideway 223 for a valve flap 226, as seen in Figs. 8, 12,13 and 14. The flap has apertured wings 221 Vfor pivotal connection to apair of links 23|. In its lower position, as indicated in Fig.V 14, theflap 226 covers drain outlets 233 in the tub side Wall ||4 to preventthe escape of water from the interior of the baille, and consequently,from the interior of the tub 46.

The valve 8|, which controls the upward and downward movements of thevalve nap 226, comprises a cylinder 236, fixed in position on the tubwall |4 by brackets 235 (Fig. l). The cylinder 23'6 has an end cap 231(Fig. 14) provided with a tubular portion 24| constituting a slidebearing for a piston rod 242, and an end cap 238 which has a tubularinlet 243 from which a water supply hose 246V extends through a suitableopening in the tub side wall ||4 to the me chanical automatic controlvalve 16. A piston head 248 is secured to the rod 242 within thecylinder 236, as by nuts 252. Similarly secured to the piston rod 242,outside the cylinder 236, is a cross piece 253 having ears 254 forpivotally receiving the upper ends of the links 23|. The pivotalconnections of the links allow the nap 226 to slide in the guide 223notwithstanding the angular mounting of the cylinder 2 36 due to thecurved contour of the tub.

When the tub is to be drained by this means, Water is admitted throughthe hose 246 into the cylinder 236, the piston head 248 andthe rod 242move upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 14, thus moving the valve flap 226upwardly to allow water to drain through the apertures 233 into theouter container 4| When the water supply to the cylinder 236 is cut off,the piston head 248 and the flap 226 move to the lower closed positionunder the action of the spring 255, the water in the cylinder escapinginto the outer tub 4| throughV the small bleeder opening The tuboperating mechanism 5|, as better seen in Fig. 1, comprises a tubularsleeve having a portion 262 of small diameter tting in the spiderbearing |63, and a portion 263 of large diameter outside the bearing,thereby providing a shoulder 266. A nut 261 cooperatingY with a screwthreaded part of the sleeve portion 262 secures the sleeve to thebearing |63. An inclined shaft 268, journaled by a, ball bearing 21|inthe sleeve portion 263 and at its upper end in the sleeve portion 262,is adjustably held by a nut 212 in a slot 213 of an arcuate arm 216 thatis secured, as by a nut 211, to the upper end of a drive Shaft 288.-..,Y

*eccetera vjr'nountedrigrthegear housing 65. jiThis housing -encloseslr(zn-Worin 'wheel mounted "onthe ,shaft the motor Aand, the tub` driveshaft. v,The Vvmotor i shaft also extendstothe centrifugal pump 61 fordriving-the latter-atithe speedfof the motor. At'athis point itmaybeqmentionedthat; the y.shaft296 is further connected, :through Easuit- -,;able;spe.edreduci11g mechanism; heregshow-nk as i :.,beltandpulleydevice Slug-.and bevelpinions =.362, .to ayertical shaft.3|l3.Vor actuating'the rInechanical automatic control-,.f-valve unitilfand`the booster, pump 15 hereinafterdescribed; The .1 shafti308,isfenclosedwithina standpipe 304; hav- .zing a-vwatertightconnection-.,with thelibottQm: of --the outertub 4|.

Asfthe-:shaft 288 rotates:the=;arm 216;.revolves which, by-reason of theinclination ofithefshaft 268, producesa,gyratingeor wobble movement ofthe tub 46 lin'cooperationwith the tub guidingf-means 68. This :guidingmeans comprises Va.- bracket. 28| secured :.tof'onefof the 'fi-bosses|52 ofitheispider -50 and carrying `shaftsr128f5 on which are "journaled.rollers E288 having 'rubber peripheral rings or tires 281 bearing atopposite sides of the stationary guide plate 51. The latter has an inneredge 58 drawn on an arc about the point of oscillation of the tub, andthe guiding rollers 286 are held to up and down movement by the plate 51so that the tub does not rotate on its own axis.

By loosening nut 212, shaft 268 can be adjusted in arm 216 to vary theinclination of the tub and thereby obtain different degrees of wobblemovement, resulting in more or less energetic washing action. This meansis only symbolical of other adjusting means that may be used to allowfor different washing actions according to the types of articles beingwashed in tub 46.

In the operation of the washing machine, after it is filled with clothesand water for washing fluid to the proper level, energization of themotor 66 will cause rotation of the shaft 288 and with it the crank arm216. As the inclined shaft 268 travels in its orbit, the tub 45describes a gyratory motion in a clockwise direction, and the tub iskept from rotating on its own axis by cooperation of the rollers 286 andvertical guide plate 51. The action of the baffles in agitating theclothes and water as the tub gyrates has been described.

After the washing action is completed, the wash water is drained fromthe tub, which, in this instance, may be vdone in two ways. Fluid underpressure is admitted behind the diaphragm 55 to raise it from the bottomof the tub, which will lift the clothes and water toward the top of thetub, thus flowing the water out through the perforated cover andoverflowing it into the outer container 4|. Eventually, in thisoperation, the cover 41 will be pushed upwardly to bring about registryof the openings |26 and |21 to complete the draining action through thetop of the machine. This action is also known as flushing by reason ofthe fact that without the addition of any water the floatable foreignmatter and soil will pass out of the tub before contacting the clothesto streak, spot and stain.

. VA16 c "Seconduidzuriderpressure ,mayebe' admitted :,to theV'drainpjvalva cylinders 8 I .tovraiseitheY flap valve"'226;'soithattwater will drain through :the perforated hollow'L bailles 52 4andythe Vdrain open- IJgS' 33l Vin the, sidel wall ofv the; tub, this watera.lso"1lowi1'1g'into'ther outer container'4l. It will .be borne in mindthat .the tub is .being continuouslygoperated so'that all water' is"drainedjfrom ,theg tub. ,"Flurthermore, the motor j*66. operates theCentrifugal pumpj61 thatgis connected by pipe g |08 Ato lthepinterior ofthe outer container 4| wherebygtodischargethe waterffrom that container,toga suitable .Waste drain disposal.

.After the 'draining is completed,` the. diaphragm `letlniris'.to,ts.norma.l .positionkof lrest, andrinse water;. isgadmittedtoj the'Atub. through waterinlet tube' 156,1, this, waterv spraying.V overftheclothes `as the, tub isbeinglled lwitli. rinse` water, and again, sincethe jtub isLbeing cohtinouslywobbled, the clothesmassheceives Yaneffective Vspray rinse. 'If 'the'.drain yvalvesi ljfhavenoti been'closedat leastpart `,of this* rn'elimina'ry rinse water' willimmediateiypass,ontjof vthe tub. 'When the. drain valves, are closed,the. tub will' beiilled with water, andlthe clothes willreceivefajthoroughrinsing by. reason `,of the` agitationof the clothesinthat water. 'Ihe supply. .of rinse water may continue untilthewater,overnowsLthrough the perforated Coverl ,and therihising completedin! thefflowing water. ,Upon vcomple.,tio:r'1. .of p the. rinse vvopera-Ation,'the' tub is again drained in the same manner and the squeezing ofthe clothes by the diaphragm may be such as to bring the clothes to asemi-dry condition ready for nal drying either in the air ormechanically.

The adjustability of the inclined shaft 263 in its mounting will varythe orbit of that shaft to thereby produce the more or less energeticwashing action adaptable to the fabrics being laundered.

I claim:

l. In a washing machine, a tub including a wall portion having drainoutlets therein, motor operated means to wobble said tub for producingwashing action on articles in the tub, baille means in the tub includinga hollow baille secured to the wall of said tub over said outlets andhaving inlets therein for admitting fluid from the tub to the baille, aguide in said baille adjacent the wall of the tub, a shutter operable insaid guide for controlling the opening and closing of said outlets, ailuid operated piston operating said shutter, and control means locatedoutside said tub and connected to said piston for actuating the same.

2. In a washing machine, a tub having a substantially semi-spheroidalwall, means oscillating and wobbling said tub for eifecting a washingaction on articles therein, and baille means in the tub including aradial baille having a surface conforming to said spheroidal wall andsecured thereto, and having a radially inner edge curved in directionbetween its upper and lower ends and rounded transversely to saiddirection, a flat leading surface extending substantially parallel to aradius of the tub axis between the tub side and said edge, and atrailing surface sloping relative to said leading surface between thetub side and said edge.

3. In a washing machine, a tub including a side wall having spaced apartdrain outlets therein, means including motor operated elements forcausing oscillation and wobbling of said tub about a horizontal axis forproducing a washing action of articles and fluid in said tub, baillemeans in the tub including a hollow baille secured to the Wall of saidtub over said` outlets and having incontrolling the opening and closingof said outlets, whereby the draining of the tub through said outlets isfacilitated.

4. In a Washing machine, a tub including a side Wall having spaced apartdrain outlets therein, an

inclined shaft upon which the tub is mounted, a 'vertical motor drivenshaft, a member rotated by the motor shaft upon which the inclined shaftis 'eccentrically mounted, means for preventing ro- '.tation of the tubabout its own axis including a stationary vertical guide plate, a pairof rollers connected to said tub and adapted to engage said platebetween them and to roll on respective sides thereof, baffle means inthe tub including a hollow bale secured to the wall of said tub oversaid outlets and having inlet ports for admitting fluid from the tub tothe baille, and means for controlling the opening and closing of atleast one of said outlet and inlet ports, whereby the draining of thetub through said outlets is facilitated.

5. In a Washing machine, a tub having a substantially semi-spheroidalside Wall, means for wobbling the tub about a horizontal axis includingan inclined shaft upon which the tub is mounted, a vertical motor drivenshaft, a member rotated by the motor shaft upon which the inclined shaftis eccentrically mounted, a stationary ,vertical guide plate,-a pair ofrollers connected to said tub and adapted to engage said plate betweenthem and to roll on respective sides thereof such means producing amotion of the contents of the 4tub about the axis of the tub, andstationary baille means in the tub in alignment with said guide having aleading surface transverse to the direction of motion and a slopingtrailing surface.

GEORGE C. GRAHAM.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS .NumberName Date 118,120 Ferguson Aug. 15, 1871 1,510,087 Jones Sept. 30, 19241,581,905 Xardell Apr. 20, 1926 1,665,959 Graham Apr. 10, 1928 1,737,981Smith Dec. 3, 1929 1,828,908 Perkins -1 Oct. 27, 1931 2,138,501 MillerNov. 29, 1938 2,145,453 Miller Jan. 31, 1939 2,263,963 Barry Nov. 25,1941 2,332,769 Zimarik Oct. 26, 1943 2,438,273 Y Eastes Mar. 23, 1948FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 384,646 Great Britain 1933 480,596Germany 1 Aug. 5, 1929 556,791 Germany Aug. 13, 1932

